Projects per year
Abstract
The decarbonisation of waterborne transport is arguably the biggest challenge faced by the maritime industry presently. By 2050, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry by 50% compared to 2008, with a vision to phase out fossil fuels by the end of the century as a matter of urgency. To meet such targets, action must be taken immediately to address the barriers to adopt the various clean shipping options currently at different technological maturity levels. Green hydrogen as an alternative fuel presents an attractive solution to meet future targets from international bodies and is seen as a viable contributor within a future clean shipping vision. The cost of hydrogen fuel—in the short-term at least—is higher compared to conventional fuel; therefore, energy-saving devices (ESDs) for ships are more important than ever, as implementation of rules and regulations restrict the use of fossil fuels while promoting zero-emission technology. However, existing and emerging ESDs in standalone/combination for traditional fossil fuel driven vessels have not been researched to assess their compatibility for hydrogen-powered ships, which present new challenges and considerations within their design and operation. Therefore, this review aims to bridge that gap by firstly identifying the new challenges that a hydrogen-powered propulsion system brings forth and then reviewing the quantitative energy saving capability and qualitive additional benefits of individual existing and emerging ESDs in standalone and combination, with recommendations for the most applicable ESD combinations with hydrogen-powered waterborne transport presented to maximise energy saving and minimise the negative impact on the propulsion system components. In summary, the most compatible combination ESDs for hydrogen will depend largely on factors such as vessel types, routes, propulsion, operation, etc. However, the mitigation of load fluctuations commonly encountered during a vessels operation was viewed to be a primary area of interest as it can have a negative impact on hydrogen propulsion system components such as the fuel cell; therefore, the ESD combination that can maximise energy savings as well as minimise the fluctuating loads experienced would be viewed as the most compatible with hydrogen-powered waterborne transport.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 388 |
| Number of pages | 34 |
| Journal | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 8 Mar 2022 |
Funding
performance degradation was also a consideration in the design, and has been described as the major contaminant for maritime applications [23]. It is used to transport employees from Kruibeke to Antwerp and as a demonstrator for hydrogen‐powered waterborne transport [24]. HySeas (I‐III) commenced in 2013 as a three‐part project with the aim to integrate hydrogen fuelled propulsion onto a ferry operating between Kirkwall and Shapinsay, in the Orkney Islands, located in the North of Scotland. The project looked into the theory of hydrogen power in 2013 (Part‐I), while between 2014–2015, a technical and commercial study was conducted to design a hydrogen fuel cell powered ferry (Part‐II). At present, HySeas III aims to demonstrate the fuel cells integrated into a marine hybrid electric drive system by demonstrating the developed technology inland, in addition to hydrogen storage and bunkering infrastructure. If successful, the developed technology and knowhow will be used to implement the design onto the ferry [25]. Orkney is a par‐ ticularly suitable location to trial hydrogen technology, with mature renewable energy technology producing a surplus of electricity, which would be available to produce green hydrogen such as wind turbines and more recently, tidal energy where the world’s most powerful tidal turbine Orbital Marine Power’s O2 was deployed in Orkney waters [26]. European innovation project FLAGSHIPS aims to deploy two operated compressed hydrogen fuel cell vessels, the first being an inland vessel expected to be deployed in river Seine, Paris by September 2021 [27]. While the MARANDA project, which runs from 2017 to 2021, aims to use a 165 kW hydrogen proton‐exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell for auxiliary power on a Finnish research vessel [28]. HyShip aims to utilise liquid green hydrogen on a new build ro‐ro vessel to be oper‐ ational by 2024 as well as establishing a viable liquid hydrogen supply chain and bunker‐ ing facility [29]. A group of Norwegian companies aim to retrofit liquid hydrogen‐pow‐ ered propulsion system on a cruise ship by 2023 through a hybrid system with a 3.2 MW hydrogen fuel cell and battery storage, making it the largest fuel cell installed on a ship to date [30]. Danish firm, DFDS aim to manufacture in collaboration with external partners and operate a hydrogen‐powered ferry by 2027, Europa Seaways. The consortium has ap‐ plied for funding from the EU to develop the large ferry. The fuel cell will have a capacity of 23 MW, with current fuel cells rated at 1–5 MW; this will present a significant challenge to address within the demonstration. Conveniently, the ferry will operate from the Co‐ penhagen area, where there is a large resource of renewable energy production from wind farms that will support the supply of green hydrogen through electrolysis [31]. Mean‐ while, the first liquid hydrogen carrier—named the Suiso Frontier—is scheduled to leave Japan for Australia as early as this month to pick up its first cargo of hydrogen late this month as part of a pilot project led by Japanese company Kawasaki Heavy and backed by Japanese and Australian governments to show liquefied hydrogen can be produced and exported safely to Japan [32]. Table 1 summarises the key hydrogen‐powered propulsion projects. Funding: This research was funded by the Department of Transport & Innovate UK grant number 10011677.
Keywords
- energy-saving devices
- hydrogen
- propulsion
- alternative fuels
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Dive into the research topics of 'Study on applicability of energy-saving devices to hydrogen fuel cell-powered ships'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Transition to hydrogen powered ocean-going and short-sea shipping with enabling retrofit technologies (TransShip)
Shi, W. (Principal Investigator), Tao, L. (Co-investigator) & Yuan, Z. (Co-investigator)
1/09/21 → 31/03/22
Project: Research